Mechanism for delivering inflammable liquids



March 11, 1952 Q ELLIQTT 2,588,504

MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS Filed June 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l 5 j w'ezzzoz 42' @108 Z 26 liz lorzzcy 7 March 11, 1952 A. c. ELLIOTT 2,583,504

MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS Filed June 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ze o 12!. 7

March 1952 A. c. ELLIOTT MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June '7, 1948 flaw-e111 I 42ZZ2242 653111 012.

61 71025 zzolli J i7 March 11, 1952 ELLlOTT 2,588,504

MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS Filed June '7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v4rgkz4r' ilial? yg wa M Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITEB STATES ?ATENT GE F 16E Application J line 7, 1948, Seri'al No.:31,-54'5 In Great Britain October 27,1947

This invention relates to mechanisms for delivering inflammable liquids and is particularly applicable to coin-operated mechanisms for filling mechanical lighters such as, for example, cigarette lighters.

One of the disadvantages of mechanisms of this character heretofore known has been that any inflammable liquid which may become spilt during a filling operation or any such liquid which may become discharged from the mechanism due to dripping from the supply nozzle, is liable to become a source of danger of fire.

According to the present invention, however, the mechanism is provided with means whereby any surplus liquid discharged from the machine is returned to the supply tank or container through a fireproof and/or vapour-proof channel.

The invention will be more completely understood from the following detailed description which is given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view in diagrammatic form of a coin-operated mechanism for delivering inflammable liquids in which the invention is embodied;

Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged plan and side views respectively of the overflow drain and conduit for returning any surplus liquid to the supply tank of the mechanism;

Figures 4 and 5 are side and plan views respectively of the upper part of a coin-operated mechanism for filling mechanical lighters to which the invention may be applied;

Figure 6 is a side view of the lower part of the mechanism shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the mechanism shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 on a reduced scale.

Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of these drawings, the coin-operated mechanism is constructed in the form of a main box-like container the handle 55 may be of the kind illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 to be described hereinafter.

Immediately below the discharge nozzle 55 there is disposed an overflow drain which takes the form of a horizontal or slightly inclined shallow trough 56 having an outlet therein in the form of a cup 5! across which there is disposed *a' sheet of wire gauze'whichha'sa mesh not-less than 28 to the linear inch, and which is soldered or otherwise fixed to the walls of the cup. 'The lower end of the cup is connected to the supply tank 52 by a small bore pipe 59 which has a U-shaped bend 65 therein as shown.

It will thus be seen that with this arrangement any surplus liquid emerging from the discharge nozzle 55 either falls straight into the cup 51, or runs down the trough 56 into the cup 51 when it passes first through the wire gauze 58 and then through the U-s'haped pipe 60 into the supply tank.

This device thus provides both a fireproof and vapour-proof return channel for the surplus'liquid, since the wire gauze prevents any flame from striking back to the supply tank and the U -shaped bend provides a liquid seal between the tank and the entrance to the drain, thus .preventing any inflammable vapour from passing back from the supply tank into the atmosphere.

The arrangement may be readily applied 'to the coin-operated mechanism for filling cigarette lighters shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and '7 in which the mechanism is housed in a main container, the front only of which is shown, this container being of substantially rectangular section and being conveniently mounted on a base and enclosed from above by a hinged or detachable waterproof cover, the wholebeing constructed for preference of stainless steel plate or of plastic material and the cover being provided with a lock and key, all joints and seams being securely welded or otherwise rigidly secured.

Within the main container and welded in position thereto is a fuel tank 25 formed of sheet metal proofed against rust, and within a small well 25 formed at the bottom of this tank there is provided a vertical plunger pump consisting of a piston 3! mounted within a cylinder E3, the walls or" which are provided with a plurality of inlet ports 32 immediately above the piston at the lowest point of its travel. The pump pistonrod Ii is continued upwards through a gland in the cylinder cover 33, through a second gland located in the fuel tank top plate 34 andis provided at its upper end with a metal disc iii of sufficient weight to maintainthe pump pistonat the bottom of the cylinder below the inlet ports so that when the piston is at rest the cylinder remains primed.

From the upper cover 33 of the'cylinder [3 a seamless copper pipe leis led through the tank top plate 34 and is bent over as shown so as to point below the container cover but'higher than 3 the fuel tank, the bottom of this reservoir I5 having a short delivery pipe I6 projectingthrough the front of the container as shown, the projecting end of the delivery pipe outside the container being bent over and downwards.

In register behind a coin slot cut in the container front plate 30, is a coin chute 35 formed between two shaped pieces of sheet steel 2 and 3, the sides of the chute which is open at both ends being formed by two side plates I. A U-shaped plunger 8 slidably mounted in side brackets 36 on the side plates I, is provided, this plunger hav-' ing a pusher pin 9 mounted in vertical slots 3'I in the plates I so as to be free to slide in the lower part of the chute 35, this plunger being normally held in its uppermost position by means of a helical spring 38 connected between the pusher pin 9 and a pin or lug 39 on the bracket 36, and having a horizontally arranged actuating rod passing through the front plate 30, and terminating in a handle I. In its normal position downward mo ement of the plunger is prevented prior to the insertion of a coin by the release pawl 4 which is pivoted at 4a and carries at its lower end a short transverse rod 42 which normally engages in horizontal or slightly inclined slots 44 in the side plates I, the centre part of the pawl having a groove 46, which normally engages with the pin 9.

Pivoted to the lower parts of the side plates i is a balanced lever 6 consisting of a pair of parallel arms secured together by a pin 40 which acts as the fulcrum of the lever and passes through the plates I. The rear ends of the arms forming the lever 6 pass under the weight It secured to the upper end of the pump piston rod II, the arms passing on either side of the rod as shown, while the front ends of the arms are secured together by a pin 4I entering the coin chute 35 and provided with a roller 5, the chute being partly cut away at the back to allow travel clearance, the point of entry of the lever into the chute being approximately under the chute plunger in its resting position.

On the front plate of the fuel tank a glass sight tube is fitted, and in register therewith a slot is cut in the front plate of the container so that the fuel level in the tank may be seen from outside the machine. a screwed closure plug 45 is provided on the top plate of the fuel tank 26, and it will be appreciated that access to this component may only be had by removing the container cover. Within the fed tank there is a float to which is connected a rod 2I, the upper end of which is bent over at right-angles and is slidably mounted within the slot 43 of the guide plate 22. This rod acts as a retaining stop for the shut-off flap 23 which is pivoted to the front cover so as to fall across the coin slot when the float 2i sinks to the bottom of the tank 26, a retaining strap 24 being provided for causing the float to remain submerged. The lower section of the container front plate is cut away to accommodate a door through which coins collected in the base of the machine may conveniently be removed, and this door is provided with a lock and key. A small metal section welded to the container in any suitable position serves as a screw-driver to remove the closure-plugs of lighters before filling. Drilled angle-pieces welded to the walls of the container provide a means of attachment to walls or counters.

In operational sequence, a coin on being inserted through the coin slot, rolls down the coin A filling orifice fitted with.

4 chute 35 and moves the release pawl 4 which swings forward so as to move the rod 42 along the slots 44 sufficiently to allow the coin to pass, and to move the grooved part 46 of the lever 4 to clear the rod 9 thereby freeing the plunger 8 for downward movement.

The edge of the coin now rests against the pump rocker lever roller 5 and when the coin pusher bar is depressed by the handle I, the pusher pin 9 forces the coin downwards thereby causing the pivoted lever 6 to lift the weight I0 to which the piston rod II is attached. This action causes the piston to rise within the cylinder I3 and in so doing to close the inlet ports 32 and discharge the contents of the cylinder along the pipe I4 to the gravity tank I5 which empties itself by gravity through the spout I6. When the coin has passed by the rocker roller 5 it falls down the lower part I2 of the coin chute into the coin box in the base of the machine. The pivoted lever 6 then returns to its horizontal position by means of the pressure of the weight i0 which drives the piston back to its normal position, any liquid remaining in the cylinder being forced out through the discharge ports 43, so as to enable the piston to return to the bottom of the cylinder I3, whereupon liquid is permitted to enter the ports 32 and fill the cylinder I3 with the next charge of fuel. Whilst the coin is in contact with the rocker roller 5 and the pusher pin 6, the pusher handle 1 can only be moved progressively downwards due to the ratchet I8 being locked by the spring controlled pawl I! until the handle and plunger 8 have traveled the full downward distance when the ratchet 28 will have cleared the pawl I! thus permitting the handle and bar assembly to return to its upwards position by means of the tension of the spring 38. At the same time as the pressure on the roll 5 is removed by the release of the coin and the pivoted lever 6 regains balance, the weight IE! on the upper end of the piston rod H forces the piston back to the bottom of the cylinder, this movement causing a suction which drains the feed pipe I4 of fuel before the inlet ports 32 are opened. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a machine intended for use indoors, since any danger of after drip which might be caused by leakage or capillary action of volatile fuel and which might generate obnoxious odours or dangerous gasses is entirely eliminated. It will be appreciated that the amount of fuel discharged on each operation is regulated by the travel of the piston in the pump cylinder, and this is varied by adjusting the position of the weight I 0 on the end of the piston rod, this action controlling the amount of free play of the pivoted lever B. It will also be appreciated that the opening of the inlet ports 32 as the piston 3| is forced to its lowest position re-prinies the cylinder I3 by gravity from the fuel in the tank 26, while the level of fuel in the feed pipe I l becomes equal to that in the tank. If desired, the mechanism may be wired electrically so as to provide either a continuous or an intermittent light for enabling the lighters to be filled in the dark, and conveniently a dash-lamp may be incorporated in the outer container above the front plate so as to provide a concealed form of lighting.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited to the particular arrangement described and illustrated since it is obviously capable of various modifications; for example the main container may be of any size or shape to suit manufacturing convenience, and it may be cast, pressed or spun in any suitable material which maybe opaque or transparent, for example it may be constructed of sheet metal or plastic material the governing factor being the size and capacity of the fuel tank which is required to conform to the regulations of the laws concerning the storage of petroleum spirit and insurance stipulations.

I claim:

1. A dispensing mechanism for filling mechanical lighters with fuel comprising a storage container for fuel, a closed cylinder associated with said container, an inlet adjacent one end of the cylinder providing communication between the cylinder and the container, a delivery duct communicating with the opposite end of the cylinder from the inlet and having its outlet end located exteriorly of the container, a piston within said cylinder, an operating rod connected to said piston and extending outwardly through an end of the cylinder, means for automatically retracting the'piston to the end of the cylinder into overlying relation with the inlet and a channel in the piston providing communication between the inlet and the inside of the cylinder only when the piston is in its fully retracted position, whereby upon the retracting stroke of the piston a vacuum is created within the cylinder to draw surplus fuel back into the cylinder from the delivery duct, an overflow drain situated adjacent and at an elevation below the outlet end of the delivery duct for returning surplus liquid to the container, said overflow drain comprising a pipe having a U-shaped bend for forming a liquid seal between the entrance and discharge ends of the pipe with the discharge end of the pipe terminating at an elevation above the bottom of the U-shaped bend and a flame arrester of wire gauze overlying the entrance end of the pipe.

2. A dispensing mechanism for filling mechanical lighters with fuel as set forth in claim 1 wherein the inlet is provided in the circumferential wall of the cylinder and the channel comprises a circumferential portion disposed intermediate the height of the piston and branch portions extending between the circumferential portion and the inwardly-disposed face of the piston, whereby the piston in its fully retracted position causes the channel to travel into registration with the inlet to admit fuel from the container into the cylinder.

ARTHUR CHARLTON ELLIOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 177,414 McCrum May 16, 1876 271,032 Burton Jan. 23, 1883 410,948 White Sept. 10, .1889 642,787 Eaken Feb. 6, 1900 1,152,009 Dearinger Aug. 31, 1915 1,934,623 Frick Nov. 7, 1933 

